September is California Wine Month

Apr 29, 2007

Wineries, retailers and restaurants offer a multitude of consumer offerings

Sacramento, CA — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared September 2007 California Wine Month in a proclamation praising California's wine community for its contributions to the state's economy, lifestyle, tourism and environment. This is the third consecutive year that the governor has honored the California wine industry.

"We are pleased that the contributions of California's wine community are recognized by the Governor as an important part of California's economic and social landscape," said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, Wine Institute's President and CEO. "Wine Institute initiated the California Wine Month campaign for September during the annual harvest to showcase the state's diverse wine regions, beautiful and sustainable vineyards, welcoming wineries and tasting rooms and, of course, outstanding wines."

The Wine Institute is partnering with winery members, regional winery and grower associations and other organizations to promote a calendar of California wine events in September. Visit www.californiawineevents.com for listings of consumer events in California wine country in September and throughout the year. These special events include harvest festivals, grape stomps, blessings of the grapes, barrel tastings, food and wine pairings, concerts and complimentary wine tastings.

Restaurants and retailers have also planned special events and promotions to celebrate California wine during the month of September. Restaurant activities include: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar featuring Golden State wines in all "Wine Flight of the Night" programs across the country with four reds, four whites and four reserve wines that change each week. P.F. Chang's China Bistro has a wine-by-the-glass promotion with a red and white flights offered on all wine lists in all restaurants coast to coast. Trader Vic's Restaurants will initiate the first international celebrations of California Wine Month with various wine promotions at 15 of its restaurants in the U.S. and overseas, including London, Hamburg, Tokyo and Shanghai.

All five Washington, D.C.-area Legal Sea Foods restaurants will feature California wines from wineries that have completed the Wine Institute's Sustainable Winegrowing Assessment. Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, which includes 701 Restaurant, The Oval Room, Bardeo Wine Bar and Cafe, Ardeo, The Bombay Club and Rasika in the D.C. area, will be featuring California wines on all wine lists throughout September and 701 Restaurant is the location of a regional wine tasting for area wine trade. Charlie Palmer's Steak emphasizes California wines as part of its all American wine list and is also hosting special events. On the West Coast, Tavistock Restaurants, which include California Cafe, Napa Valley Grille, Blackhawk Grille, Cafe del Rey and Horizons, will be featuring California wines in their wine-by-the-glass programs throughout September. Marin County's AVA Restaurant, north of the Golden Gate Bridge, has an all California wine list featuring wines from nearly two dozen different AVA's and focusing on lesser known varietals and blends from family producers. Marché aux Fleurs, its sister restaurant, will also highlight California bottlings on its wine list. In San Francisco, Perbacco restaurant will feature California wines from Italian-American owned wineries in a special by-the-glass program. Lido Restaurant at the Dolphin Bay Resort in Pismo Beach will feature only California wines at its regular Tuesday wine tastings. Ristorante Brissago at the Miramonte Resort & Spa in Palms Springs will feature 50 percent off its special Tapas program when a bottle of California wine is purchased during September.

Retailers are also placing California wines front and center during the month. Safeway, Vons and Pavilions are celebrating California Wine Month in all California stores and in 21 other states across the U.S. with special California wine displays and promotions throughout September. Costco Wholesale will offer special wine promotions in selected warehouses across the nation, while Beverages and More! will feature California wine promotions in all stores. McArthur Beverages, Schneider's of Capitol Hill and Arrowine on the East Coast will conduct in-store California wine tastings and special promotions throughout the month of September.

Wine Institute is the association of more than 1,000 California wineries and wine-related businesses dedicated to public policy advocacy and to enhancing the environment for the responsible consumption and enjoyment of wine. California is the fourth largest wine producer in the world and produces 90 percent of all U.S. wine. In the U.S., two out of every three bottles enjoyed by Americans is a California wine. Each year, nearly 20 million tourists visit wine regions throughout the state to explore and enjoy the wines, the cuisine and cultural offerings associated with California's signature industry.